Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-09
THE PUBLIC PLEASED.

Is SHOWN upon the boulevard, but no dis
order. Il is apparent that the result OF
the election gives general satisfaction.
Tho Arjsstment of Railroad CRAFTS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-Secretary L.
mar IN his annual report says regarding
tnc adjustment of railroad grants:
Shortly after my appointment to the
position l now have the honor to hold,
and ee | became somewhat familiar with
the public land system, its organization,
and the workings thereof, | became more
and more impressed with the tsct that
the public domsin was being diverted
from its legitimate purpose and convert
ed to objects the inevitable effect of
which were repugnant to the entire thee
~ on which the land system was based
Apart from the methods of illegal sp-
preparation of the public domain Effected
through the perversi0n OF the several laws
for acquiring title thereto, became con-
Vinced that the administration Of Con
gressional grants of lands to wagon end
rail roads had given rise to enormous
sbus s. Congress had not only made
grams which IN some instances exceed ed
III eXtenS the area Of g half dozen of the
largest ead most populous states of the
Union, but il addition provided that apY
losses Of lands within the granted limits
shoul3 be satisfied by selections Of lands
within other and adjoining limits, tbps
nearly doubling the area Of the original
grants. Uader these acts the Lsnd De-
purtment mad withdrawn from pubic ep-
preparation not only the granted !imi4s xs
required By lAW, but also the lands with
IN the Indemnity limits at the request Of
The grantee companies. Thus enormous
quantities OF the public land were held il
reservation TO awslg the convenience Of
me respective corporations in the con-
s:TuCtiou Of their roads, she selections Of
it's lands, and the uncertain adjustments
of the grants by tie Department.
| DO rot for moment mean TO question
lhe wisdOm Of aiding IN the construction
OF railroads. That policy vas at the time
2 wise one. But in the light Of eXpe!Ierce
1t may we'll be asked whether it would not
nave been wiser 20 have aided these great
enterprises otherwise than BY grants OF
the public domain. Though much good
has been wrought, certain il is that the
legislation by which these vast territories
passed under the dominion OF the rail
road companies gave ep incurable wound
~ tEC -ISAnSSlCoO EGuS MS USlUIS I0&L
scheme had fair opportunity for display
ing its benefcent fleets.
This lang grant legislation was GER
tainly not III harmony with the theory OF
clstrlbution OF tue public domain
eu0rg the people, SnG gave up 10 cspital-
lists, SO basis fer trSfi; and speculation
md gigantic financial schemes, Whist was
oy the original policy of the government
designed to be homes for 81 Industrious
and thrifty people, the a0odes CT
domestic happiness and virtue
end patriotism. Notwithstanding
these indemnity Withdrawals we're made
exclusively for the interests OF the COM
pany, few of these, if any of them, con
strucEed their roads within the time pre-
scribed in the granting act, as 81 express
condition on which the grant was made
Maps Of ''probsble," general" ode
signated," ard "detiaite" routes Of the
roads were fled with rapidly in the
Department, and Withdrawals there
under ssked and almost Invariably
granted until Inc public land states and
territories We're cridirOned over with
railroad granted and indemnity limits;
snd in many instances the limits CT one
road overlapping and conf citing with
osher roads N the most b3Wlderipg man
ner, so that the settler seeking home
could SCARCELY ind d desirable location
that vas not claimed by some one, or
perhaps two or three, or tue many roads
to which grants Of lands had been made
by Congress.
The confusion, hardship, and imposi-
tons praCticed upon the settlers we're
greatly increased Uy tie bold schemes OF
t re corporate sgents where withdrawals
were made of lands to which the legal
title Of the companies had not attached,
.nd which afterwards remained in he
same condition for Years through the
failure Of Congress to make the necessary
appropriations for the surveys
Yesrs have elapsed since many Of the
grants have been msde and other years
since the Withdrawals. Some OF the
have ConstructeI the entire
line Of their roads, others fragmeptarY
portions only, snd others, again, none at
ell; tut the withdra walls Of the lands
We're no less effective as S.
osrrier against the settlers in
tue one case than IN the
other. 1t mattered not what might be
ms equities acquired by years of toll upon
what he believed &c be s part Of the M
tioual domain. Il was declared by the
highest legal Judicial tribunal. as ex-
pounded by the highest law Ulcers OF
he executive, that a withdrawal once
made by competent authority was legal
md elective to exclude all from intrusion |
within its limits.
Instructions were issued TO the Com !
missioner Of the General Land Office 10 |
1etsu ali the available force in his office |
20 the work of adjusting the road grants, |
making said work special and proceeding |
Is rapidly IS possible with the same, |
20 the end that the companies should be |
ully protected in their just clsims, |
md have certified to them ell the land |
hey were entitled to, speedily and with
,ut delay; and the residue OF public |
ands, disembarrassed OF corporate claims
md prefer sions, become free for the use
md quiet enjoyment OF settlers. The
mount of land restsred to the public
iomain, through the orders revoking the
Indemnity Withdrawals, IS 81, 323 600 /